Foxconn faces tax revolt in Devanahalli: Panchayats demand ₹5 crore, set Feb 7 deadline

Despite operating for two years and employing 40,000 people, Apple iPhone maker Foxconn is accused of bypassing local gram panchayat approvals and taxes in Devanahalli taluk, triggering protests.

A major controversy has erupted around Foxconn, the global electronics manufacturing giant that produces Apple iPhones, over alleged violations of local governance norms in Bengaluru’s Devanahalli taluk. Two gram panchayats have accused the company of functioning for nearly two years without paying local taxes or securing mandatory approvals.

Foxconn’s large manufacturing facility has been set up across multiple villages in Devanahalli. The unit spans 136 acres under the Koyira Gram Panchayat limits and an additional 170 acres within the Vishwanathapura Gram Panchayat jurisdiction. The land, totaling 300 acres, was allotted by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) specifically for the project.

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The factory, which currently employs around 40,000 workers, is actively manufacturing Apple iPhones and exporting them overseas. However, according to local authorities, the company has not obtained essential clearances such as building construction approval, plan sanctions, or No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the concerned gram panchayats.

Officials and elected representatives from both Koyira and Vishwanathapura gram panchayats allege that Foxconn has also failed to pay local body taxes since the start of operations. Despite issuing multiple notices over the past two years, the panchayats claim the company has not responded or complied.

The two gram panchayats have now jointly raised a strong objection, accusing the company of ignoring local governance systems. Panchayat presidents, members, and officials have publicly expressed anger, stating that such actions undermine local administration and deny villages their rightful revenue.

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According to the panchayats, Foxconn owes ₹5 crore in pending taxes. A final deadline of February 7 has been issued, directing the company to clear dues and regularise approvals immediately.

If Foxconn fails to comply within the stipulated time, local residents, along with panchayat leaders and officials, have decided to launch protests against the company. Calling it a “tax battle,” the two gram panchayats have announced a united fight to enforce local laws on the prestigious multinational firm.